Minicamp Day 1: Veterans in the fold

Nearly all of Buffalo's veterans were on-hand for the first day of the Bills three-day minicamp.

Mandatory minicamp began on a hot and sticky day at One Bills Drive at 2 pm and just about the entire roster was in the fold. Veterans Alan Branch and Manny Lawson were on hand for the first time this spring getting reps on Buffalo’s defensive line. For Lawson and the rest of the defensive unit it felt like very little changed despite the new scheme under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

“It’s so much fun. It’s almost like we never lost a step,” Lawson said. “We still kid around and joke around and get after each other. We work hard and we have a good time doing it. We all have one goal in mind and that’s the way a team should be.”

Lawson, who is “shifting” from strong side linebacker to full time defensive end doesn’t see much of a transition for himself in the new system this season.

“Probably the only thing that’s going to change a lot for me now is I’m not going to drop as much,” Lawson said. “I will have my hand in the dirt more, but other than that the SAM linebacker and defensive end are relatively the same position except at SAM linebacker you have to drop more in your man to man coverage. So I don’t have to cover anybody man to man now, so it’s see ball, go get ball.”

Lawson rotated in and out with Jerry Hughes on the right side of Buffalo’s formation. Thought Mario Williams did not participate in any team work Tuesday it’s anticipated he’ll spend the majority of his time at left defensive end.

Practice tempo peaking

The practices are largely the same to those from the organized team activities, but just about all the veteran participating EJ Manuel noticed an uptick in the pace and competition level of practice.

“You definitely can feel it turned up a lot more, having big Marcell (Dareus) back, Kyle (Williams) back, Mario (Williams), (Manny) Lawson is back. As far as a defensive push, you felt a great push, and then you add in Brandon Spikes, they have a lot of good leaders on defense. So we’re getting a great look on offense every day.”

Even starting cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin were rotated in for team work with the first team. They only saw a handful of reps, but instead of just taking them in red zone they were out there defending 70 yards of field.

“It’s kind of based upon how we feel with me and Stephon,” said McKelvin. “They let us try it out and try to knock off a little rust.”

Lineup notes

The offensive coaches began experimenting with Chris Hairston at guard in the last few practices of OTAs. They apparently liked what they saw from the former fourth-round pick. Hairston rotated in at the starting right guard spot and appeared to get more of the reps with the first team than incumbent starter Kraig Urbik. The two players rotated back and forth between first and second team for the whole practice.

Urbik also saw some time at center in the 9-v-9 team work. Buffalo only lines up three linemen and half a defensive line in those team periods. During that time Urbik was snapping to quarterbacks as the Bills linemen are always cross training.

With Cordy Glenn excused from practice due to illness, rookie second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio stepped in for the starting left tackle position. Kouandjio had spent the majority of his snaps at right tackle with the second unit in OTAs, but he was a left tackle for Alabama in college.

Seantrel Henderson’s absence bumped Edawn Coughman up to the second team left tackle while Mark Asper played his third different position Tuesday manning right tackle with the second unit.

With Mario Williams not participating in any team work (7-on-7 or 11-on-11) Jarius Wynn was the starting defensive end Tuesday alongside Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes.

DB JaJuan Harley broke up what looked like a completion on an over the shoulder pass from Thad Lewis to Chris Hogan. Hogan was pulling the ball in when Harley karate-chopped Hogan’s arms to knock the ball loose.

Undrafted rookie safety Deon Broomfield picked off a Jeff Tuel pass intended for Sammy Watkins deep down the right sideline.

Kyle Williams had a tackle for loss on a run play by Anthony Dixon as he beat his man on the line of scrimmage.